The Big Apple: Mad. Ave.

Above, a plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at west 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce The Big Apple, a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

This site is edited by Barry Popik. Technical matters are handled by Grant Barrett of Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary.

Entry from October 10, 2004

Mad. Ave.

"Madison Avenue" has long been known for advertising, just as "Wall Street" means finance and "Fifth Avenue" means wealth.

"Mad. Ave." is an abbreviation, but it's also a comment on the mad, mad, mad, mad world of advertising.

11 October 1957, New York Times, pg. 45:
Advertising: Life on Mad. Ave.

Mad. Ave.
by H. T. Elmo
New York: Ace Books
1961
(Cartoons about the advertising industry - ed.)

4 October 1970, Washington Post, pg. 242:
...as an advertising copywriter in the New York jungle. His wife and he lose contact spiritually, and by the end Fitzie has to choose between saving his marriage and his self-respect (his soul?) and further triumphs on Mad Ave.

Posted by Barry Popik
Streets • (0) Comments • Sunday, October 10, 2004 • Permalink